A lot of Christmas stuff...

Ok so I haven't blogged for a while and I wanted to show some of the stuff we have done during the Christmas break. It might be long, or I might be brief, I guess it will depend on how crazy my kids get while I am working on this.  These first few pictures I took while playing with my NEW camera Larry bought me for my birthday. My old one was not taking great pictures any more. We had bought it before Hayden was born 5 years ago, and it has been dropped MANY times and gotten a little wet from going on the boat...  I love the pictures of Ruth mopping. She got this mop for her 2nd birthday (in October) She LOVES it and screams till she has HER mop every time someone mops so she can help. It is so cute to watch her mop.

Hayden not wanting to help or get her picture taken...

Amelia helping make dinner. She loves to make salads to help make dinner. Yes that is home made bread on the counter. I had just taken it out and delivered it hot to a few of the sisters I visit. The rest was for our Christmas breakfast, and for dinner that night.

These 2 pictures are showing something my new camera does that I love. It takes the same picture 2 times with different lighting and then you know which one is better. I love it!!!

I couldn't help myself with the next few pictures of Ruth. She is just so stinking cute and she lets me take pictures of her (I was again playing with my new camera).  I love each of these faces she was making and that she is wearing her big sisters old apron that doesn't fit her anymore. It use to be Amelia's but now it barely covers her shirt.

Ruth... trying to get into something... a regular occurrence at our house. She does now know to use the taller stool or chair so she can get onto the counter!

She loves to color! I have  a few more of her doing this but she was standing up and just bending over to color (with her butt in the air) They were all so funny. Oh and yes that is a whole bunch of towels on my floor! Ruth is always walking off with the one I hang on the oven. I am always turning around to find one and they are always on the floor! Not sure why she does this, I can pick up 5 or more in a day sometimes!!!

Christmas morning. Santa found us!!! That is Brock laying on the floor WAITING for the big moment! Which they had to wait a few HOURS for since it was 4 am when they got up and we were not doing presents till after 7 am

The LOOT and Larry standing (or laying for that matter) while I was getting breakfast ready. Yes we are really really mean parents who make our kids eat before they open presents. My parents did it so did his and we carried on the meanness. Plus Grandma and Grandpa and the missionaries were coming so they had to wait till the set time. Not just get up at 4 am and expect mom to make it NOW. Actually at 4 am we made them go back to bed till after 5... We didn't get much sleep that night..... Literally less the 2 hours. I had just finished doing my preparations for the next day (setting the table, getting breakfast things together, dishes done....) at 1 when Hayden woke crying worried that Santa wouldn't bring what she wanted because maybe she hadn't been good enough this year... I assured her all was well, had a prayer with her and set off to go get myself ready to bed. I still at 33 year old can't sleep on Christmas night wondering if Santa will come, if I myself had been a good enough girl.... all the excitement. At 2 am I heard more noise again and went up stairs to Hayden throwing up because she was so excited she couldn't stand it! We got her cleaned up and taken care of and back to bed just after 2 (probably 2:15) and I fell asleep quick this time. Then at 4 am I was awoken by voices in the living room. I was so deliriously tired that I was thinking, "I better go find mom and tell her the kids are up... where is mom? I better go get her.... WAIT I AM THE MOM!" I went and told the kids it was WAYYYYYYY to early and to go back to bed till after 5 they were back down at 5 but I never went back to sleep. I was to excited because I had seen that Santa DID come!!! 

Some presents being opened

My mother in law made these Christmas dresses for the girls. They really loved them.

Amelia got the American Girl Doll she really really wanted. She loves her and named her Emily.

Ruth got this my little pony baby and she was so excited for daddy to get it out of the box.

Hayden got a new Webkin from mommy and daddy. She loves it!

Brock spent his own money  to buy this cash register and food for the girls. They LOVED it! He was so excited to give it to them.

The day after Christmas we went to Prineville to be with family. It was a lot of fun. I love this picture of the 3 "babies" of the family. They are in order of age. Reagan was born in April of 2009, then Ruth October 2009, then Tyrah in April 2010. 6 months between each of them with Ruth right in the middle. I hope someday they will be the 3 Amigos! Tyrah was NOT happy about the picture taking, she was soooo ready for a nap. Normally you hardly hear a peep from her and she is so sweet. It was fun to watch them all interact together 3 two year olds could be scary but they were fun, well see what happens when they are all 3!

Reagan loves Dotty. Dotty, not so much but will tolerate it when she has to. Reagan is actually very sweet with her and it is cute to watch her hold her like a baby.
The last one is just Grandma doing hair and the girls all hanging out. They all had fun spending time together. They are going to have even more fun in a  few weeks when we go to the Great Wolf Lodge. They all got a trip for one night for Christmas and the grand kids were all so excited there was some hooting and hollering going on when they opened their present. I didn't take a picture of that just video. I don't know how to down load that or I would. It was so much fun. I can hardly wait to get them all there and have a blast! My kids are doing a GWL count down now that Christmas is over we got to count down to something! It was a wonderful holiday and maybe latter when I don't have an 11 year old bugging me to use the computer I might take a few minutes to journal my feelings of this season. It has been one of the most magical, and spiritual seasons I can remember. Many blessings, a lot of love and a wonderful feeling was with me through the season! Maybe if my 11 year old weren't still standing here watching my every move I might take a few more minutes to share some of those experiences, and feelings, but alas he is still watching and the 2 year old is now screaming MOMMY MOMMY MOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYY so now my time is gone. I will go get the rest of dinner on the table. Maybe I hope to journal some before my memories and feeling have all faded to the forgotten things in my brain never to be remembered, like half of our Christmas dinner... again another story for another time when my 11 year old isn't standing watch, reading, and nagging... maybe later!